Gerbera plant named ‘Lekgersams’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gerbera  plant named ‘Lekgersams’, characterized by its semi-double type, salmon-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Gerbera×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Lekgersams’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gerbera plant botanically known as Gerbera×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Lekgersams’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Pijnacker, The Netherlands during May 2006. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Gerbera cultivars that are freely flowering with large flowers.

The new Gerbera cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Gerbera×hybrida breeding line designated HEAF 178, not patented, characterized by its double-type, salmon-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Gerbera×hybrida breeding line designated AF 734, not patented, characterized by its double-type, rose-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2007 in a controlled environment at Pijnacker, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tissue culture propagation in a controlled environment since May 2007 at Pijnacker, The Netherlands has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Lekgersams’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Gerbera plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, salmon-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower type and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Gerbera cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Revolution ‘Mega Champagne’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of Revolution ‘Mega Champagne’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more double flowering than         plants of Revolution ‘Mega Champagne’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are more vigorous than plants of         Revolution ‘Mega Champagne’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Lekgersams’. The plants were grown in 14 cm pots for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse at Pijnacker, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Lekgersams’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Lekgersams’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2009 under natural light conditions in Pijnacker, The Netherlands.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from tissue culture plantlets and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Pijnacker, The Netherlands in 14 cm pots for approximately 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Gerbera×hybrida cultivar Lekgersams. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Gerbera×hybrida breeding line             designated HEAF 178, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Gerbera×hybrida breeding line             designated AF 734, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Tissue culture plantlets.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 7 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a tissue culture plantlet.—Approximately 35             to 49 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 14 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright             growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 40.0 cm. Height from soil level to top of             foliage: Approximately 30.0 cm. Width: Approximately 35.0             cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, basal rosette. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Fragrance: None. Form: Simple, arising             from a basal rosette.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Elliptical. Margin: Deeply incised, dentate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate             (reticulate). Length of mature leaf: Approximately 40.0 cm.             Width of mature leaf: Approximately 9.0 cm. Texture of upper             and lower surfaces: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: 135A.             Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A             with venation of 138B. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: 138A with venation of 138B. Color of lower surface             of mature foliage: 138A with venation of 137B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 9.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.5 mm. Texture: Glandular pubescent. Gland             color: 145A, transparent. Color: 145A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Lekgersams’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             30 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double, composite. Aspect:             Facing upward and outward. Arrangement: Positioned above             foliage. Quantity of fully open inflorescences per plant:             Approximately 8. Quantity of developing inflorescences per             plant: Approximately: 4. Fragrance: None. Length or height:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Width: Approximately 14.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 34.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Texture: Glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color: 144A.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 5 to 10 days for bud             to progress from first color to fully open flower. Shape:             Round. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately             3.0 cm. Petal color: 40D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 70             outer ray florets and 200 inner ray florets. Shape:             Lanceolate to narrow elliptic. Appearance: Iridescent.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Length of             outer ray florets: Approximately 7.0 cm. Width of outer ray             florets: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of inner ray florets:             Approximately 5.0 cm. Width of inner ray florets:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when fully open: 40D and             base of 155D forming a ring. Color of lower surface when             fully open: 40D.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 2.7 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 500. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 1.0 to 2.0 mm. Diameter at base: Less than             1.0 mm. Color: 142D.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Cone. Height: approximately 9.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 2.2 cm. Color: 145A.         -   Involucre.—Height: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 80.             Arrangement: Imbricate in several whorls. Shape: Lanceolate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Attenuate. Base: Fused. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces: Glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137D. Color             of lower surface: 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets and             some imperfect stamens on the inner ray florets. Stamen             quantity: Approximately 2 per flower. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 151D.             Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium:             Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil quantity: 1 per             flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma shape:             Split heart shape. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Stigma color: 2D. Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style             color: 2C. Ovary length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Ovary             texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: 155A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Gerbera has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gerbera plant named ‘Lekgersams’, substantially as herein shown and described. 